Early Employment Outcomes for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum: When Judiciously Selected and Supported for Competitive Employment in Highly Skilled Technical Jobs

There is growing evidence that neurodiversity can strengthen a workforce by adding new aptitudes, skills, and ways of doing things. This contrasts with traditional views that engaging those with neurominority conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents challenges in areas such as emotional intelligence, ability to quickly incorporate group norms, ability to network, and being a team player. Results from a survey conducted in Canada between 2015 and 2018 provided support for the success of individuals with ASD when selected under favorable employment conditions and provided with appropriate environmental accommodations, if necessary. Eighty-four percent of these individuals were still employed 2 years later, either in the same job or in an equivalent one in the same or a different organization. This was a much better employment outcome than has previously been reported for individuals with ASD.